The Hall Newspaper Spring 2020 No 17

Science

LWSAUEUBENLKCIMHATEESTSHCSCEIEIEHNNACCLELE

Andrew Chambers

To launch BRITISH SCIENCE WEEK, we were lucky
enough to welcome Sublime Science to our Middle and
Senior School Assembly. Professor Fizzabella kicked off
a week of excitement and learning in spectacular fashion
as she introduced the boys to experiments based on the

chemistry behind some everyday plastics.
This was followed by workshops for all of our Year 3 and Year 4
boys where they were involved in many experiments including,
Sweet Making as a Science Experiment and Gooey Slime Making
- our boys were grinning from ear to ear when they tasted the
sherbet they had made (as well as gaining an understanding of
chemical reactions)! Everyone was also able to make their own

slime to take home & show their parents (and learn all about
polymers too!).

SCIENCE 51

SCIENCE
IN ACTION

On Wednesday 11th March, DR SARA GHORASHIAN GREAT ORMOND STREET HOSPITAL is
OF THE UCL GREAT ORMOND STREET INSTITUTE OF one of the best children’s hospitals in the
CHILD HEALTH came to The Hall with some of her PhD world.
research students, to lead an assembly for the SS and MS
boys. Afterwards, Year 7 and 8 boys were lucky enough It opened in 1852 and has always led the
to work with the GOSH researchers in The Hall Science way in children’s health. GOSH cares
laboratories; in one lab the learning was about microscopy for children with rare and complex
and in the other, the focus was upon learning about cancer conditions. It has over sixty specialties
in one place – this is important because
and its treatments, especially CAR-T cell therapy. many of the patients need to be seen by
several different doctors and specialists
In the labs over the course of the morning the Year 7 and during their treatment.
8s enjoyed learning about human blood cells (normal
Last year The Hall community supported
and malignant) using light microscopy, a process used in one of Dr Ghorashian’s research projects
diagnosing leukaemia. In the leukaemic blood film they saw at GOSH to further the scientists’
a higher white cell count, lower red cell and platelet count understanding about immune cells, so
due to the fact that the cancer cells disrupt the production that treatments for childhood cancer can
continue to be improved in the future.
of other blood cells. Further discussions were had about
leukaemia, its treatments, including chemotherapy and
novel treatments. The boys relished the opportunity
to pose questions to the researchers and understand
what they are trying to do, in investigating the
appropriate ‘special powers’ that can be given to
CAR T cells in the lab so they can fight cancer more
efficiently and with fewer side-effects.

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BENCH TO BEDSIDE WHAT IS CAR T CELL THERAPY?
AT GOSH
We know that our immune system is really important in helping
us to fight infections like colds. But what if they could also help

a child to fight cancer?

ACUTE LYMPHOBLASTIC LEUKAEMIA btitahnihinrlnitleasfiWodoe,ct ncbotekahtegnrTeaeecnodlaclitwisniuehcseflsaestlesehivulnclseaeattf.thesenTScdetdaohtycrebeeeowrdyyaluelchscntcn,hehodeetneglhcelysaendyco.rioiorsLurtuloeiojrdeongsntabvhgeotaietri-tssaulueiaccvstneko.eacTilqndlohtssudhleuTdieeynrhvmc’ffrreoeeeeel.ycrcplWlrtsoeetetxghecoadaenollhdmbyinbtaeyitpgoovsrletiodntebhroy,oaumedTytat-ceohnactolhodteetlodeucldlksuslocviiallfgeleiiennrlou-ldgtsos
long immunity from viral infections.
The most common childhood cancer is Acute
Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL) and at Great Ormond

Street Hospital, Dr Ghorasian is a ‘bench to bedside’
doctor, working one day in the science labs to further
scientific knowledge and the next, treating children with

ALL on the wards.

The standard treatment for this cancer is chemotherapy – cHaonwceervecreTllscleololskctahne’tsdamo ethaessoatmheerfcoerlclsa, nscoeor.uTrhTisciesllbsedcoaunsoet

some patients undergo this therapy for up to 3 years. High recognise them.

T cell cancer recognitionrisk patients may also undergo bone marrow transplantation.
Nonetheless, ALL remains a leading cause of cancer-related

death in children. High risk patients have a long term

survival of 15-30% with the standard therapies and these Viral infection Cancer
patients are often treated to the maximum tolerated
doses of chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

e make CAR T cells?So Dr Ghorashian and her team have been
working on alternative therapies for
several years now.

Virally infected cells make foreign Cancer cells generally don’t make foreign
proteins (blue) so they are easy for proteins, so T cells can’t recognise them

the immune system to detect

WTiTnhcfeeeeychlltsasiovunenravstaeuytrhatolhCluyeAspMRbar-AonToKddHctEeyeOblcClWaittAlnhliuRDedosrOTnacfpaCWrTyonEEicmLskeLaiSllvlvl?sieirnaraynfled(cateneadtdRceobsDbochenpcaaohcrtCeerctnedehGchklApoylieeehasttlonRooarols)nggerursta,xdyirhnasft)edahentr.aaceiTpraakershanireetvteto’drsiitfeuefshitwcncapeeittTieaamcu.tclmhtaNrocrientaeoaoteclktcwlanoyeitollkCehlrlgweetswtechAnnhhciWeemlgietreataRlmeloiibnmnochnscsoeanu(otecuwnreahcegdnnmarcehCntreeierootniCdAartcichlrivesAieeoRcTeecaeleARnlslulicslgs.C,Llsler.TeIoLeyaiAanltlusc,sbiRCtcttioanathechgeocsreamasiefnetmncltlidlitactvtssehtihboecvahoreassaiegtatnctpteontinnetahaAassisbndetscnwitTteTdeetaceibinsgsregiccrgontliaeeeliv’desstlnleltsylsanstgtaaorgikneilstltothncea
Using the immune system to fight cancer•

•
•

creacrroigensiaseuinnifqesintutceialetwlsenretedeyfefpcecdeocestgolmilvnfseotirrtaeeisoawtpnmoormseksnitobto,lleaem,ncadaunkidlete to When the CAR recognises its target on the surface of a
• Long-liveddTiftfcoeeraellnllsotwtcyoiptnettosrobibfecuuatsneecdetorf.oAlrilflsoeot-,slsooofnmge cancer cell, it activates T cells to kill theRBceluaden==ccTaencecrellrcceellll

immunity frTocmellsvwiroarlkinbefettcetritohnans others, so

researchers are doing more work

to understand how to make

them last longer and work Blue = T cell
better, so that treatment Red = cancer cell

is more effective.

SCIENCE 53

THE CATAPULT
CHALLENGE

Richard Gordon

Once again, Year 5’s knowledge of History and
Science was put to the test in the annual
CATAPULT CHALLENGE.

This cross-curricular learning comes about as the Year 5s
study castles in History at the same point in time each

year. Following a lesson on weapons that covered a range
of different siege equipment used to capture castles, the
history of the catapult session had the boys riveted and
really added to their enjoyment of the challenge that the

Science department set them.

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Here are some of the picture and main points that we discussed in our half
an hour talk on the History of Catapults:

• The Greek Dionysius of Syracuse
created the first catapult in 400BC

• It was to become the key weapon in
warfare during the medieval period

• The catapult was eventually replaced by
gunpowder from circa 1650

• The early catapults were simply a way
in which to increase the size and range
of a crossbow

• Since the Greeks, Romans and the
Chinese made use of catapults

• The Romans used the BALLISTA

• In England the catapult first made
its appearance at the Siege of Dover
in 1216, crusaders had picked up the
technique

SCIENCE 55

YEARS 6 & 7
SCEIAXEnNHdreCIwBECIThWaImObENeErsK

This year, the theme for
British Science Week was 'OUR
DIVERSE PLANET' - celebrating the
amazing diversity we see across the world.
From biodiversity to cultural and societal
diversity, from the diversity of knowledge to
STEM careers and subjects, there were lots of

ways to explore this theme.
Our Year 6 and Year 7 boys didn’t disappoint when

they presented their open homework projects at
our Science Exhibition, in the Wathen Hall. From

exciting (and messy) Chemistry experiments
to highly informed and interesting poster
displays, the boys made a great effort
and produced some excellent work –
congratulations must go to them all!

56

PARTNERSHIP
IN SCIENCE LEARNING

On Friday 13th March forty five Year 6 children arrived
from ROSARY ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL for
an afternoon of hands-on Science, led by Hall Year 8 boys in the

Wathen Hall and Science Labs.

Science week at The Hall ended with exciting, hands-on sessions in
Physics, Chemistry and Biology for Year 6 children from our partnership

school Rosary Primary. The afternoon was led by Year 8 boys team-
teaching each subject.

In groups, the Year 8s had created their own lesson plans focusing on lab
safety as well as the learning objective for each science session. In Biology
students learned about the functions of the heart and lungs before taking a

closer look at how they work - by dissecting some!

In chemistry students looked at the difference
between a physical and a chemical change and
how to identify when a chemical reaction has
taken place, carrying out investigations and

recording their findings.

In Physics the Year
6s, working in pairs, explored
electricity and were given different
challenges related to building circuits to

complete.

Everyone was encouraged to ask questions, try out
the experiments and to explore how exciting science

can be! The students tested their learning through
challenges, crosswords and puzzles.

The Hall Science department has been working closely
with Rosary Primary’s Year 6 teachers and students since
the beginning of the academic year, focusing on developing

their KS2 science curriculum.

Feedback from the afternoon’s enrichment session was
extremely positive, the children appreciated being in
a real science lab with authentic science equipment.
Having the opportunity to take part in practical
experiments really helped them understand the
concepts that they had been studying in school,
and they valued the opportunity to put into
practice some of the ideas before going
to secondary school and further
Science in the future.

SCIENCE 57

MAsetaronndoMmyy

Kush Chandaria

Over the course of the past two years, I have been out in Messier 42
the garden with my telescope on every clear night. This (otherwise
is despite London’s unforgiving winter weather, which known as
unfortunately coincides with the best nights for stargazing! My Orion Nebula)
hobby is astronomy. after several
failed attempts and when
A few years ago, in the Maldives, the hotel we were staying at was I successfully imaged
offering a “stargazing experience”. I was intrigued. The idea that I asteroid Vesta.
could see the Milky Way and other unexplored edges of the galaxy, There are many satisfying
excited me. Standing there, I was mesmerised by the vast amount things that come out
of space still undiscovered and available to explore. That was when of astronomy and even
my curiosity in the subject sparked. I was especially obsessed with some valuable lessons,
the constellation Orion. one of which is patience

Two years later, I am now more involved in deep sky ...THE IDEA THAT I COULD SEE THE MILKY
astrophotography and planetary imaging. I find the fact that I WAY AND OTHER UNEXPLORED EDGES OF
can image high quality celestial objects from my back garden THE GALAXY, EXCITED ME...
really quite incredible. To pursue my passion, I joined the Baker
Street Irregular Astronomers group which allowed me to study
the stars with others who share my passion. My two most proud
achievements in astronomy were when I successfully imaged

58

and how humbling it is
as a hobby. For example,
to successfully take an
image of a deep sky target,
you first must align your
mount which could take up
to an hour, then connect
all your equipment and
open up several softwares
on your laptop. As well as
this, to achieve a decent
image, you need at least
two to six hours of data. Simultaneously, you have to keep
monitoring the telescope and setup. Despite the meticulous
preparation, often, things go wrong and my efforts are in
vain. However, this is very humbling as it forces you to start
all over again, armed with new knowledge. When you do
finally succeed in the end, it’s one of the most satisfying
things as you see all of your effort come together.
Despite the immense patience required, the experience is
always rewarding as your end result is a snapshot of the
Universe - and, who can complain about that?

ME AND MY ASTRONOMY 59

Sport

Hall boys managed to
play and enjoy a lot of
high quality Rugby and
Hockey in the early part of this
season.
As you will see in the following
reports over forthcoming
pages, every year group saw
a lot of fixtures and activity,

working hard in training
and showing resilience and
determination in the matches,
learning from defeat and putting into practice the teamsmanship
and physical skills they had drilled in training.
The weather was dramatic too this term, with rain falling just about
every day and plenty of drama in the skies above Wilf Slack Playing
Fields, ranging from white billowing puffs of cloud, to sparkling
arcs of rainbow, to glowering grey mists. Above all else, in spite of
the evolving world dramas, the Spring Term brought opportunities
for sporting fun.
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THE WEATHER WAS DRAMATIC TOO THIS
TERM, WITH RAIN FALLING JUST ABOUT
EVERY DAY AND PLENTY OF DRAMA IN THE SKIES
ABOVE WILF SLACK PLAYING FIELDS

SPORT 61

RUGBY

YEAR 3 Jonathan
Stringer
Jonathan Stringer
The Year 4 boys have
This term has seen the Year 3 boys learn a new sport had a fantastic first
in their games lessons, rugby. Over the course year of contact/
of the term the boys have been taught the basic grab rugby, really
rules of rugby, specifically the rules for tag rugby. There embracing the true spirit of the game. It has been a joy to see the many
is a real emphasis on working on the boys’ hand-eye smiling faces as they walk off pitches having given their all!
coordination, naturally a lot of throwing and catching
is involved within the lessons. The boys have improved Matches came thick and fast and as always it was game time for all as we are
dramatically over the term, showing lots of enthusiasm very keen for every boy to experience the joys of representing their school and
in playing rugby! playing alongside their friends (and of course we must not forget the most
important bit, pizza at the end!)… All in all a very successful season and I am
Year 3 have had another successful term at Wilf Slack, sure the present Year 4 boys will go on to play some even better rugby if they
being split off into different groups working with the continue with this positive and enthusiastic approach.
same teacher every week. The boys have been playing
a lot of tag, working on shape and their defensive lines. Barry Williams YEAR 5
The last few weeks were
especially exciting for the The Year 5 Rugby boys have had a great year both
boys in Year 3 as they took during their training sessions and matches. The boys
part in their own ‘Rugby Six have set high standards for themselves and this has meant that
Nations’ using all the skills
learnt in the lessons and
implementing them into the
matches!

training sessions have really pushed each boy individually.

We had some hard-fought fixtures against both
Arnold House and Wetherby, coming away with
close victories in each. The boys worked hard
on body position in both defence and in the
ruck. Teamwork is a great strength of this year
group and the boys really do work hard for each
other, a great quality in rugby. Well done on a
great season.

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James Goldsmith YEAR 7

The Year 7 boys have had a
fantastic term of Rugby. They have
demonstrated clear progress individually and

collectively, in matches and during our sessions, showing

an excellent approach to learning.

Harry Millburn-Fryer YEAR 6 Some of the things they have worked on this term are the defensive
and attacking reset, fixing the defender, two on one tackling,
Year 6 Rugby has gone from strength to identifying and exploiting space in the opposition defence, handling
strength this term, with a passionate group of young players skills and support play at the ruck for the ball carrier. Their learning
showing real enthusiasm and dedication to improving. has been based around the Principles of Play and this has encouraged
them to develop their game intelligence. This has included developing
The physicality and commitment of the boys has been superb, often an ability to play through the phases while maintaining possession.
surprising our opponents with the patented "Hall School Press They have developed an excellent team ethos of trust and support
Defence". The real improvement has been in the handling skills and for each other, increasing communication skills in the process.
ability to move the ball into the wider channels of the pitch, leading to This ‘trust’ has included releasing the ball to a team mate who has
many tries scored and may be the reason that Year 6 has been beaten identified space rather than going alone. Decision making has been
just the once this season. developed through an awareness of the options available to them
but also that a hierarchy of decision
Perhaps the highlight of the season came in the first half of the term making can be based around the
when the boys travelled to Allianz Park to do battle in a round robin Principles. For example, Continuity but
tournament. The competition was fierce, but both our A and B teams not at the expense of Possession.
showed real spirit and managed to win all their games. A fine feat! It
has been a pleasure working with Year 6 this term and I am sure their An excellent effort from all Year 7s
rugby will only improve over the coming years. and ‘Thank You’ to Mr Peter and
Mr Mavroudis for their significant
contribution.

YEAR 8 RUGBY 1ST TEAM VS WETHERBY

Barry Williams Charlie Aldridge

The Year 8 Rugby boys had a great On the 5th of February, the Year 8 rugby 1st team (and
season. The boys worked hard later the 2nd team) played Wetherby, a long lasting foe.
during training sessions which The game started in a worried but pumped manner, (I
resulted in huge improvements in their assume since I was a third of the three man squad that made
matches. up the 2nds, not yet playing).

The team suffered two hard-fought losses to start the year but went on to Despite their fear of the typically stronger Wetherby, the
win the next six matches from seven afterwards. This included winning the team quickly proved dominant and when the score reached
Arnold House Tournament at Allianz Park. double digits in the first ten minutes in favour of The Hall,
Coach Williams felt bad that the three 2nd team members, yet
The Year 8s worked extremely hard on their game play and game management to play a game (since their first game was cancelled and the
while also focusing on making sure they had a strong defensive line. Towards only other scheduled game due later in the term) and decided
the end of the season the team was often too strong for opposition teams and to drag me and two others away from our incredibly riveting
because of this we were able to set ourselves new goals and targets to work game with the year below us and put us on for what was left
on. Well done on a fantastic season! of the game. Despite the 1sts being joined by the rag tag trio,
we still pulled through and came out victorious with a mighty
score of a big number to a less big number (I lost count!).

SPORT 63

U11 YEAR 6

Robert Grant

Asmall but enthusiastic group of Year
6s supplemented by a handful of more
experienced Year 7 boys made up the U12
Hockey group this term. Many of the boys were
trying out the sport for the first time and, as a
group, they made some excellent progress overall.

The A team in particular proved to be a tough
opponent for all the teams that they faced and even
though our performances did not always bring the
deserved victories, the team always looked to learn
from the experience. Our highlight of the term was
an 8-0 thrashing of North Bridge House, even though
the second half of the match was played in torrential rain.

Cassius Yechiel and Felix Rottke deserve special mention this season and they have driven
the squad on with great determination. A great deal of progress was made by this group this
term and I hope that they continue to enjoy their hockey in the future.

U13 are known to have a strong hockey background (starting in Year 2).
James Chapman Three out of the four teams lost convincingly but they all showed
great perseverance to battle through, competing against much
With 30 boys joining us for hockey this term it was the stronger opposition. The third team did manage to hold on in their
perfect number for the top as troat Wilf Slack Playing game and won by a single goal, epic scenes at Wilf Slack. Tough
Fields, as we often split the groups into thirds. matches against Arnold House and Westminster tested the boys’
character but they learnt a lot from playing against boys who proved
We started the term fast with all boys playing against St John’s who to be more superior.
These matches spurred the boys on during the training sessions,
practising a number of skills including being able to hit the ball
hard from one side of the pitch to the other, using their weak side
to control and pass the ball, lifting the ball over an opponent’s
stick, and understanding positions on a pitch. Students had the
opportunity to play in various positions, including going in goal,
which has enhanced their understanding of the game as well as
giving them a more varied experience of playing hockey.
We ended the season well, beating St Anthony’s,
Durston House and Northbridge, as
well as beating (at home) and losing
(away) to Westminster. A thoroughly
enjoyable term and just sad not
to have the opportunity to regain
our crown at the Arnold House
tournament at the Olympic Stadium
due to the implementation of the
CV-19 measures.

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